Gravesham

Gravesham's population increased by about 6,000 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Gravesham increased by 6.3%, from just over 95,700 to 102,000.

The addition of just over 6,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gravesham was home to, on average, 7.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gravesham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gravesham increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than the South East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 15.0% of people in Gravesham are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Gravesham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Gravesham saw the South East's third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (48.9%) people aged 16 and over in Gravesham said they were married, compared with 54.6% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26.5% to 32.4%.

Across the region, only Hastings (from 45.6% to 39.6%) and Medway (from 52.2% to 46.3%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Gravesham, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.8% to 11.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.7%) households had a married couple, compared with 39.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Gravesham, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 10.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Gravesham increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gravesham, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Gravesham

The percentage of Gravesham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.6% in 2001. The percentage of Gravesham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.6% to 89.9%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Gravesham increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gravesham, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Gravesham

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Gravesham was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.0 points.

In 2011, 22.9% of respondents in Gravesham gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 12.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Gravesham, 64.9% said they were Christian, compared with 77.8% in 2001. About 8.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 7.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.6% to 6.7%.

In Gravesham, 6.3% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.0% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Gravesham increased by 9.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Gravesham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Gravesham at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Gravesham, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.6% in 2001 to 16.1% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Gravesham fell from 18.7% to 17.3%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71.3% to 64.6%.

Private renting in Gravesham increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gravesham, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Gravesham working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.2% to 11.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Gravesham decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Gravesham, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Gravesham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.8% to 5.1% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.4% in 2001. The percentage of Gravesham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.8% to 13.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Gravesham decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gravesham, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Gravesham

In 2011, 2.8% of Gravesham residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from from 0.6% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.7% to 1.5%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 82.8% of people in Gravesham said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 89.5% in 2001. About 10.4% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 8.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.0% to 2.0%.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Gravesham increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Gravesham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Gravesham residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 5.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 54.2%, while the percentage of Gravesham residents that were self-employed increased from 7.9% to 9.5%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Gravesham increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Gravesham, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Gravesham with children increased from 31.9% to 32.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56.4%) households had no children, compared with 57.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Gravesham with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 11.0%.

The proportion of households with children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Gravesham residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Gravesham remained close to 2.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Gravesham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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